Loss of the Lion (1625)

Loss of the Lion (1625)
Part of Anglo-Portuguese rivalry in the Persian Gulf
Date17 October – 18 November 1625
Location
Off Surat, India
Off Bandar Abbas, Persian Gulf
Result
  • Portuguese victory
  • Destruction of the Lion
Belligerents
Portuguese Empire Portuguese Estado da Índia East India Company
Commanders and leaders
Nuno Álvares Botelho
Rui Freire de Andrade[1]
Portuguese Empire Gaspar Gomes[2]		 Captain Blyth[3]
Richard Swanley †[3]
Henry Crosbey[3]
Strength
4 galleons[4]
14–20 frigates		 3 ships
Casualties and losses
26 dead[1] 1 ship sunk
68 dead[5]

The engagement off Surat and the subsequent loss of the Lion at Bandar Abbas (also known as the Defence of the Lion)[6] were two naval actions fought in 1625 between the Kingdom of Portugal and the English East India Company during the Anglo-Portuguese rivalry in the Persian Gulf.

On 17 October 1625,[a] an English fleet was engaged by Portuguese forces under Nuno Álvares Botelho off Swally (Surat).[2] The Lion was boarded, but after a prolonged fight, the English managed to drive off the Portuguese.[8][3]

The Lion later arrived at Bandar Abbas, where she remained for several days.[3] In 8[3] or 18 November,[9] Botelho arrived from Hormuz with 14–20 frigates.[b] Following a fierce defense, the ship was destroyed by fire and explosion, and all but one of her crew were executed.[3][10][11]

Order of Battle

Portuguese ships:[2]

  • São Francisco Xavier
  • São Francisco
  • São Pedro
  • São Salvador

English ships:[2][4]

  • Lion
  • Palsgrave
  • Dolphin

Notes

  1. ↑ Willem M. Floor dates the battle to October 1626.[7]
  2. ↑ 14–15[9] or 18–20 frigates.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Nuno Alvares Botelho, p. 43.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Boxer 1935, p. 103.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Clowes, “A” History from the Earliest Time to the Present, Volume 2, 1898, p. 44–45.
  4. 1 2 Boxer, Commentaries of Ruy Freyre de Andrada, 2005, p. 197
  5. ↑ Boxer, Portuguese conquest and commerce in southern Asia, 1500-1750, 1985, p. 105.
  6. ↑ Grey, The Merchant Venturers of London, 1932, p. 187.
  7. ↑ Floor, A political and economic history of five port cities, 1500-1730, 2006, p. 330.
  8. ↑ Boxer 1935, pp. 103–104.
  9. 1 2 Boxer 1935, p. 104.
  10. ↑ Boxer 1935, p. 105.
  11. ↑ Steensgaard, Niels (March 15, 2017). The Asian Trade Revolution. University of Chicago Press. p. 353. ISBN 9780226771458.

Bibliography


This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.